Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Kennedy

Thomas J. Kennedy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11959396
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine article includes a silicon-containing ceramic wall that has an external combustion gaspath side and an internal side that borders a cooling air cavity. The external combustion gaspath side has an associated combustion gas flow direction there along. An array of cooling holes extends through the silicon-containing ceramic wall and connects the internal side with the external combustion gaspath side. The cooling holes are oriented to discharge cooling air to the external gaspath side in a direction counter to the combustion gas flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. Martin, Gajawalli V. Srinivasan, Paul F. Croteau, Matthew B. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20240000070
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, lll
  • Patent number: 11839975
    Abstract: A computer-controlled robotic arm performs operations upon a workpiece, such as a knife with a blade that requires sharpening, by a set of one or more workstations, such as a grinder and a polisher. A position target having a defined surface profile is attached to the robot arm and scanned by a profilometer to determine a relative position of the arm with respect to a target centerpoint feature. The arm is then used to manipulate the centerpoint feature to locate operating features, such as a grinder's grinding surface, of the various workstations in the robot arm's coordinate system. A workpiece grasped by the robot arm is then scanned along with the target or another target to locate and profile the workpiece relative to the target. Based on the determined profile and positional relationships, the robot arm manipulates the workpieces so as to be operated upon by the workstations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Chinmay Harmalkar, Tyler C. Kelly, David F. Bentley, Anthony Wang, Thomas J. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20230365765
    Abstract: An article includes a hybrid nanocomposite product, which includes a nanostructure array and a resin matrix contained among and/or around the nanostructure array. The array/matrix is placed in between layers of dry or resin-infused fiber composite to permit formation of a composite structure. The nanostructure array and/or the resin matrix may be disposed in an abutting relationship with other layers of a composite. The array/matrix can provide reinforcement of the composite in the z-direction. Transfer of resin into dry fiber forms may be provided when the array/matrix acts as a resin transfer medium. Nanostructure arrays with a resin matrix can be prepared to form a resin film product. Methods are presented for infusing composites via resin-transfer molding (RTM), vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), resin film infusion (RFI), or injection molding wherein a resin matrix film substantially maintains alignment and position of the nanostructure array during the infusion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan Williams, David Degtiarov, Christopher Gouldstone, Paul Jarosz, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 11793194
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Industrial Polymers and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 11766040
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Industrial Polymers and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Publication number: 20230281415
    Abstract: A tool having a detectable wireless marker or tag is provided. The tool has a working portion with a projection or tang by which the working portion of the tool is held, a wireless tag located on, but insulated from the tang, and a handle disposed over and encompassing the projection or tang and the wireless tag. In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless tag is insulated from the tang using a housing assembly made up of: an enclosure with a side opening for receiving a detectable wireless tag; a cover that securely fits over the side opening; and a snap-fit assembly component integrally formed on an outer surface of the enclosure for receiving a tools' tang. The invention allows for the use of fragile markers or tags, which are protected by the housing assembly from temperatures and pressures used during, for example, tool handle manufacturing processes. Also provided is a method for providing a tool with a detectable wireless tag, and a method for tracking and tracing tools used within a packaging facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Dexter-Russell, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary P. Goguen, Thomas J. Kennedy, Joshua Polunina-Proulx
  • Publication number: 20230234220
    Abstract: A computer-controlled robotic arm performs operations upon a workpiece, such as a knife with a blade that requires sharpening, by a set of one or more workstations, such as a grinder and a polisher. A position target having a defined surface profile is attached to the robot arm and scanned by a profilometer to determine a relative position of the arm with respect to a target centerpoint feature. The arm is then used to manipulate the centerpoint feature to locate operating features, such as a grinder's grinding surface, of the various workstations in the robot arm's coordinate system. A workpiece grasped by the robot arm is then scanned along with the target or another target to locate and profile the workpiece relative to the target. Based on the determined profile and positional relationships, the robot arm manipulates the workpieces so as to be operated upon by the workstations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Chinmay Harmalkar, Tyler C. Kelly, David F. Bentley, Anthony Wang, Thomas J. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 11684066
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Industrial Polymers and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Publication number: 20230180745
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Publication number: 20230144746
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, lll
  • Publication number: 20230049183
    Abstract: A robotic sharpening system and method for rapidly and accurately sharpening or resharpening cutting tools is provided. The inventive system employs a robotic arm that grasps each cutting tool by its cutting blade instead of by its handle, thereby reducing flex during the sharpening process. This results in a more accurate and consistent sharpening by consistently providing an even bevel at the knife edge regardless of minor imperfections (i.e., a bend or warp) in the blade surface. In addition, it renders the system uninfluenced by the size or shape of the handle of the cutting tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Dexter-Russell, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20230042353
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 11484027
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Industrial Polymers and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Publication number: 20220132838
    Abstract: An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, lll, Ralph G. Dacey, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220064938
    Abstract: A construction material structure, comprising a plurality of inner support columns, the support columns being fixtured at the top end portion and/or the bottom end portion in a generally parallel, spaced apart arrangement, a polymeric film stretched across a first side and an opposite second side of the support columns, a quick cure polymeric fibrous material formed on the outer surface of the stretched polymeric film, and a polymeric foam disposed between the support columns and the stretched polymeric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: VBBT Corp
    Inventors: Yuk-Kwan Brian Yuen, Venesia Hurtubise, William John Kehoe, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Publication number: 20220040733
    Abstract: An acoustophoretic device is disclosed. The acoustophoretic device includes an acoustic chamber, an ultrasonic transducer, and a reflector. The ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric material driven by a voltage signal to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber emanating from a non-planar face of the piezoelectric material. A method for separating a second fluid or a particulate from a host fluid is also disclosed. The method includes flowing the mixture through an acoustophoretic device. A voltage signal is sent to drive the ultrasonic transducer to create the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber such that the second fluid or particulate is continuously trapped in the standing wave, and then agglomerates, aggregates, clumps, or coalesces together, and subsequently rises or settles out of the host fluid due to buoyancy or gravity forces, and exits the acoustic chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Walter M. Presz, JR., Kedar Chitale, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Rudolf Gilmanshin, Dane Mealey, Brian Dutra, David Sokolowski
  • Patent number: 11179747
    Abstract: An acoustophoretic device is disclosed. The acoustophoretic device includes an acoustic chamber, an ultrasonic transducer, and a reflector. The ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric material driven by a voltage signal to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber emanating from a non-planar face of the piezoelectric material. A method for separating a second fluid or a particulate from a host fluid is also disclosed. The method includes flowing the mixture through an acoustophoretic device. A voltage signal is sent to drive the ultrasonic transducer to create the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber such that the second fluid or particulate is continuously trapped in the standing wave, and then agglomerates, aggregates, clumps, or coalesces together, and subsequently rises or settles out of the host fluid due to buoyancy or gravity forces, and exits the acoustic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Walter M Presz, Jr., Kedar Chitale, Thomas J Kennedy, III, Rudolf Gilmanshin, Dane Mealey, Brian Dutra, David Sokolowski
  • Patent number: 11168485
    Abstract: A low cost and disaster relief housing solution includes the combination of preconstructed in-service or out-of-service shipping containers that are integrated with renewable and sustainable materials to complete the buildout of the shipping containers. The embodiment also includes folding solutions that allows for a superior logistic solution for shipping and site integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: VBBT Corp.
    Inventors: Yuk-Kwan Brian Yuen, Venesia Hurtubise, William John Kehoe, Thomas J Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 10975368
    Abstract: An acoustophoresis device includes an acoustic chamber with a piezoelectric element located within its volume. The piezoelectric element vibrates and generates acoustic standing waves from both sides, so that particles can be separated from fluid passing through the acoustic chamber. This permits the element to be cooled more efficiently, reducing transient heat loads in the fluid traveling through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Brian McCarthy, Ben Ross-Johnsrud, Jason Barnes, Dane Mealey, Thomas J. Kennedy, III